INDEX and MATCH combination in Google Sheets - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - INDEX and MATCH combination

Goal

Find the price of a product by its name using INDEX and MATCH formulas combined.

Sample Data

Product	Category	Price
Apple	Fruit	1.20
Banana	Fruit	0.80
Carrot	Vegetable	0.50
Broccoli	Vegetable	1.00
Milk	Dairy	1.50

Dashboard Components

• Input Cell: Cell G2 where user types a product name (e.g., "Banana").
• Price Lookup Formula: Cell G3 uses the formula =INDEX(C2:C6, MATCH(G2, A2:A6, 0)) to find the price of the product typed in G2.
• Explanation: MATCH finds the row number where the product name matches the input. INDEX returns the price from that row.

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+------------------+
| Product Name Input   | [ G2: "Banana" ] |
+----------------------+------------------+
| Price Result         | [ G3: 0.80 ]      |
+----------------------+------------------+

Interactivity

User types a product name in cell G2. The formula in G3 updates automatically to show the price of that product. If the product name is not found, the formula returns an error.

Self Check

If you change the product name in G2 to "Milk", what value appears in G3?

Answer: 1.50

Key Result

Lookup product price by name using INDEX and MATCH in Google Sheets.

Practice

1. What does the INDEX function do in Google Sheets when combined with MATCH?

easy

A. Deletes duplicate values from a range

B. Finds the position of a value in a range

C. Sorts the data in ascending order

D. Returns the value at a specific position in a range

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of INDEX

   The INDEX function returns the value located at a specific row and column in a given range.

2. Step 2: Understand the role of MATCH

   The MATCH function finds the position (row or column number) of a specific value within a range.

3. Final Answer:

   Returns the value at a specific position in a range -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   INDEX returns value, MATCH finds position [OK]

Hint: INDEX gives value; MATCH gives position [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing INDEX with MATCH roles
• Thinking INDEX sorts data
• Assuming MATCH returns values

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to use INDEX and MATCH together to find a value in column B based on a lookup value in column A?

easy

A. =INDEX(A1:A10, MATCH(B1:B10, "Apple", 0))

B. =MATCH(B1:B10, INDEX("Apple", A1:A10, 0))

C. =INDEX(B1:B10, MATCH("Apple", A1:A10, 0))

D. =MATCH("Apple", B1:B10, INDEX(A1:A10, 0))

Solution

1. Step 1: Check INDEX syntax

   INDEX(range, row_number) returns value at row_number in range.

2. Step 2: Check MATCH syntax

   MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_range, 0) finds exact position of lookup_value in lookup_range.

3. Step 3: Combine correctly

   Use MATCH to find row in A1:A10, then INDEX to get value from B1:B10 at that row.

4. Final Answer:

   =INDEX(B1:B10, MATCH("Apple", A1:A10, 0)) -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   INDEX(B, MATCH(value, A)) correct syntax [OK]

Hint: MATCH finds row, INDEX returns value at that row [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Swapping INDEX and MATCH arguments
• Using MATCH on wrong range
• Incorrect order of parameters

3. Given the data:
A1:A4 = {"Cat", "Dog", "Bird", "Fish"}
B1:B4 = {5, 3, 8, 2}
What is the result of =INDEX(B1:B4, MATCH("Bird", A1:A4, 0))?

medium

A. 3

B. 8

C. 2

D. 5

Solution

1. Step 1: Find position of "Bird" in A1:A4 using MATCH

   "Bird" is at position 3 in A1:A4.

2. Step 2: Use INDEX to get value at position 3 in B1:B4

   Value at B3 is 8.

3. Final Answer:

   8 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   INDEX(B, MATCH("Bird", A)) = 8 [OK]

Hint: MATCH finds row 3, INDEX returns B3 = 8 [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing row numbers
• Using wrong ranges
• Assuming MATCH returns value

4. You wrote the formula =INDEX(B1:B5, MATCH("Orange", A1:A5, 0)) but it returns an error. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The value "Orange" is not found in A1:A5

B. The ranges B1:B5 and A1:A5 have different sizes

C. INDEX cannot be combined with MATCH

D. MATCH requires a third argument of 1 or -1

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand MATCH error

   MATCH returns #N/A error if lookup value is not found in the range.

2. Step 2: Check if "Orange" exists in A1:A5

   If "Orange" is missing, MATCH fails and INDEX cannot get a valid row.

3. Final Answer:

   The value "Orange" is not found in A1:A5 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   MATCH missing value causes error [OK]

Hint: Check if lookup value exists before using MATCH [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming INDEX and MATCH can't combine
• Ignoring #N/A from MATCH
• Wrong MATCH match_type argument

5. You have a table with names in A2:A10 and scores in B2:B10. You want to find the score of the name in D2, but if the name is not found, return "Not Found" instead of an error. Which formula correctly does this?

hard

A. =IFERROR(INDEX(B2:B10, MATCH(D2, A2:A10, 0)), "Not Found")

B. =INDEX(B2:B10, MATCH(D2, A2:A10, 0)) & "Not Found"

C. =IF(ISERROR(MATCH(D2, A2:A10, 0)), "Not Found", INDEX(B2:B10, D2))

D. =MATCH(D2, A2:A10, 0) & INDEX(B2:B10, D2)

Solution

1. Step 1: Use MATCH to find position of D2 in A2:A10

   MATCH(D2, A2:A10, 0) finds exact row of the name.

2. Step 2: Use INDEX to get score from B2:B10 at that position

   INDEX(B2:B10, MATCH(...)) returns the score.

3. Step 3: Use IFERROR to catch errors if name not found

   IFERROR(..., "Not Found") returns "Not Found" instead of error.

4. Final Answer:

   =IFERROR(INDEX(B2:B10, MATCH(D2, A2:A10, 0)), "Not Found") -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   IFERROR wraps INDEX-MATCH to handle missing names [OK]

Hint: Wrap INDEX-MATCH with IFERROR for safe lookup [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Concatenating strings instead of handling errors
• Using ISERROR with repeated MATCH calls
• Incorrect argument order in MATCH